Reviews

The second release in Audionics’ “missed chance by International”-series, is the August 12, 1970 Dinner Show. Is it as good as its predecessor?

DesignThe design is as good as Stranger in the Crowd, but the booklet is missing. Well, I guess I’m just spoilt by all those recent bootleg releases. The fold out digipack counts three panels, mostly filled with pictures of the actual show. No complaints here.

ContentThe show has some highlights (I’ve Lost You, Patch It Up, Twenty Days And Twenty Nights, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ and Bridge Over Troubled Water to name a few), but also some disappointments. The messing up of one of my all time favs, I Just Can’t Help Believin’ is the biggest, but also the sound on stage is not as good as other shows. Not the sound of the CD, that is perfect, but sometimes the sound on stage is a bit messy (Polk Salad Annie). Another minor (for listening pleasure) is the version of Love Me Tender, which is way too long. Maybe fun if you actually watch it, but not on CD. But for completeness' sake it belongs here. On some songs Elvis’ voice is pretty loud (Heartbreak Hotel and I Just Can’t Help Believin’).

Reading the paragraph above back, I sound pretty negative… strange, since I didn’t have that feeling while listening to the disc the first time. I guess it is like the more you get, the more you complain… Well, I hope I can complain a few more times on 1970 material. Gladly Audionics announced the next one (Something, Aug. 11 D.S.) already.

I rather pay for these quality releases than following the shameful action by International. Those people should have replaced the defective CDs from the box set by correct versions, like FTD did when they really messed up (also not often enough ;-)). Besides, downloading, cutting the wav up in tracks and burning it is way too much work, the time it takes is more expensive than paying for the Audionics releases.

Conclusion

Thanks Audionics for bringing what others forgot! It’s certainly not the best TTWII-show I have, but great for the collection and it will certainly have its occasional spin in the future